Squib-igniter.



J. A. WRANISGHAR,

SQUIB IGNITEB..

APPLIOATION HLED 11:12.18, 190s.

921 104% Patented may 11, 1909.

JOSEPHAWRAWSCHAR.

y. my Bj/@@@LM rnzwalmls PETERS Co.. WASH/Nara. u! c.

NFEB STATES ATN@ FFQE.

JOSEPH A. WRANISCHAR, OF LINCOLN, ILLINOIS.

SQUIB -IGNITER 'o all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that l, JOSEPH A. 'WRANI- soHAR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lincoln, in the county of Logan and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Squib-lgniter, of which the following is such a full, clear, and exact description as will enable others skilled in the art to make and use my said invention.

rlhis invention relates'broadly to means for igniting squibs and causing them to set off blasts, and more specifically relates to shot-firing devices such as are used by shotflrers in coal mining.

rlhe purpose of the invention is to provide means whereby shot-firing, which has hitherto been exceedingly hazardous, may be made a comparatively safe occu ation.

l will hereinafter descrilge the squib igniter as used in shot-firing as practiced in coal mining. l do not however restrict my invention to that particular use, as it obviouslyrmay be advantageously employed in firing shots or blasts for other purposes.

The squib igniter is illustrated in the annexed drawings to which reference is hereby made and is hereinafter particularly described and finally recited in the claim.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar reference numerals designate like parts in the several views: Figure l is a diagram illustratingv a body of ore, such as coal, having a hole drilled therein and tamped with clay preparatory to inserting the s uib in the hole; Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectiona diagram of the wall of an ore body, illustrating the squib igniter in place in the hole in the wall 3 and Fig. 3 is a greatly enlarged sectional view through the squib igniter on the line X. X. of Fi 2.

'glhe ractice in coal mining, briefly stated, is as fol ows z-A hole 2 of suitable length and diameter is drilled in the usual well known manner into the ore body l of the face of the entry or room as the case may be; the holes 2 ordinarily are about an inch and one half or two inches in diameter and extend some feet, say seven or eight feet into the ore body. After the hole is drilled powder 3, or other explosive, is placed therein by `any suitable means. A long needle 4, preferably of copper wire, of somewhat greater diameter than the s uib, is placed centrally in the hole 2, and c ay 5 or other suitable material, is tamped around the needle; the needle is then withdrawn and the squib is inserted in the Specification of Letters Eatent.

Application filed February 18, 1908.

Patented May 11, 1909.

Serial No. 416,540.

outer end of the hole previously occupied by the pin. The squibs in use prior to my invention have slow burning fuses which upon being ignited fire the inflammable and explosive material of the squib and cause the squib to run into the hole and fire the charge at the back end of the hole. r

The squib of the resent invention comprises a tube 6 of g ass or other insulating material; conducting wires 7 preferably of copper, fused in one end of the tube or otherwise suitably connected with the tube 5 a granulated fuse 8 within the tube 6 and surrounding the inner ends of the conducting wires 7 which extend a short distance into the bore of the tube; a sufficient quantity of powder 9 or other easily inflammable material packed in the tube adjacent to the granulated fuse 8; a squib 10 of the usual construction minus the slow burning fuse, occupying the interior of the tube and having its open end in contact with the powder 9; and a fragile seal 12 of paraflin wax or other suitable material closing the end of the tube to exclude moisture and prevent leaking of the inflammable material contained within the squib. The main structure has at one end a head or enlargement 6, in which the wires 7 are fused. The head 6 gives stability to the structure, so that it will remain in the hole in the ore body, during the explosion of the powder within the fuse. This feature is of practical advantage because it admits of the same tube being used repeatedly.

The preferable composition of the granulated fuse S is, lead seventy per cent. and tin, thirty per cent. rEhe fuse is of granulated material in order that it may be easily packed in the tube around the inwardly extending terminals of the conducting wires 7 and also in order that it may have such electrical resistance as to cause the electric current traversing the wires to heat the fuse sufficiently to ignite the powder. l do not however restrict my claim to a granulated fuse, nor to a fuse of the composition above set forth; since it is obvious that any other suitable fuse adapted to be electrically heated to the required degree to ignite powder or other iniiammable or explosive material may be used without departure from my invention. Neither do l restrict my claim to the use of powder between the fuse and the squib to fire the squib; since it is obvious that any other suitable inflammable material may be substituted therefor Without departure from my invention. lt is likewise obvious that inflammable material ignitibl'e by the fuse may be incorporated in a squib itself, Within .5 the scope or my invention. The electric current for heating the fuse may be furnished by a magneto blasting battery 13 oi any approved construction, or by any other suitable generator. The seal l2 While adapted to exclude moisture etc., is not strong enough to prevent the ejection of the squib Yfrom the tube 6 upon the explosion of the powder Q.

The procedurein 'liring the shot is as follows The hole 2 having been drilled, 15 charged, and tamped asalready described, the tube 6 Will be inserted in the hole g the magneto blasting battery 13 being located at a safe distance Vfrom the charge, the Wires 7 will be connected with the binding posts le of the battery, and the battery or generator Will be operated to produce the electric current, which will flow through the wires 7 to the granulated. fuse 8 and heat the fuse sufficiently to ignite the powder 9 which will eX- plode and thereby ignite the inflammable material of the squib l0, and drive the squib backward into the hole causing the squib to ignite the charge 3 and thereby effect the blast.

i r l Having fully described my invention What l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is':

An article oll manufacture comprising a cylindrical main structure of glass having a longitudinal bore, and an enlarged head giving stability to said main structure, conducting Wires i'used within the head of said main structure and terminating Within the bore thereof, a luse ol' granular material packed around the terminals ol' said conducting Wires Within the bore ol' said main structure, inflammable material Within the bore ol' saidA main structure aojacent to said fuse, a squib Within the bore ol' said main structure adjacent to said inll ammable material, and a fragile seal closing the end oi' the bore ol' said main structure to exclude moisture and brealable by the explosion caused by the burning ol' the inflammable material Within the bore of said main structure.

ln Witness .vhereof l have hereunto subscribed my name at Lincoln Illinois, this 6th day ot' February, 1908.

JOSEPH A. vvlAUSCIIAR.

yWitnesses CHARLES A. SANDERS, GEORGE M. KNOCHEL. 

